Grand Canyon trip

[1GoldenSun]

We're thinking about taking a trip to the Grand Canyon as soon as school gets out at the end of May. I'm sure it will be packed, but so will a lot of things.

I've been trying to do some research, and it's really hard to figure things out. Does anyone have much knowledge/experience of the Grand Canyon?

We'd like to do some camping, in some capacity. We would almost definitely fly, so we can't bring equipment. I would think we should be able to rent it somewhere, though. I don't think we'd want to hike down into the canyon, at least not all on our own. Could we rent a Jeep and drive it in and camp? If so, where would we be allowed to camp? Would we need a permit for this? Do you think it would be best to rent the Jeep at the airport (either Vegas or Phoenix, I guess) and keep the Jeep the whole trip, or get a different vehicle for the majority of the driving and just rent the Jeep for our camping days? I cannot seem to figure out the logistics of this. I think if we need a permit, we're probably out of luck, because there probably wouldn't be any left at this point. I'm having a hard time finding this information. Would we be better off taking a guided camping trip? I can't even find any availability for our dates but I could keep trying.

I'd also love to do some rafting, either a day trip or for several days. We'd definitely need a tour for this. I think at this point they're probably mostly booked up, though. Does anyone have any experience with this?

What else is there to do in the area that you'd recommend?

Do you think this is a bad idea at this point? Do you think it's going to be crazy over-crowded and too difficult to find rental car, accommodations, etc. at this point? It's a big canyon, but we do need a place to sleep.

This is a lot harder to plan than I thought it would be.

 

[marthachick]

You can’t drive anything into the Canyon. If you haven’t been training to hike, I would suggest you wait till another year to do that. And the Phantom Ranch (at the bottom of the Canyon) is usually booked out a year or two in advance.

 

[kymom99]

I’m afraid you are going to have a hard time finding availability this late. During regular times you have to make plans months in advance. From what I know, you have to schedule everything ahead at the national parks due to covid.

 

[Pooh2]

We went a couple years ago in June, booking out about 3 weeks.
We kept checking the website for lodging to stay onsite and got a cancellation for 3 nights.
I cannot speak to hiking into the canyon but the shuttle bus that goes around got pretty backed up in the afternoon.
On the south rim, there is a sidewalk/path that goes for quite aways, we walked that each day and picked up the shuttle here and there.
Our goal was photography so we were up early and out a sunset and we had company at those times but not at all crowded.

 

[luvsvacation]

May is very very soon to try to plan a trip like this! Traveling to the Grand Canyon is not something you can put together last minute. I’m hiking to the bottom in July, we got our permit a few weeks ago. We tried to get permits for April and May and didn’t get them. Permits are on a lottery system. Basically you put in a permit request for 4 months before you want to go. So for July we put in a request in March. Actually up to 10 days before, you put in request anytime between February 20 and March 1. On March 1 they randomly shuffle all they received over the past 10 days and begin filling the request until they run out of room. Today (April 1) they will begin filling spaces for August. If you want to put in a request between April 20-May 1 that would be for hiking in September. Now this is ONLY for hiking/camping at the bottom. If you want to stay at the top you’re fine, although it would probably be pretty hard to get a hotel room at this point.

You don’t need any guide to take you to the bottom. There are 2 main trails that go down, South Kaibab and Bright Angel. We are hiking down S Kaibab and back up Bright Angel. Both trails meet at the bottom at Phantom Ranch (which has limited lodging that is usually booked (also by lottery) a year out) The Campground is also down there right by Phantom Ranch. You can’t get lost.
You can’t hike down to the bottom without a permit to camp or a reservation at Phantom Ranch. They don’t let people day hike down and back up. The good news is you can hike down either trail as far as you’d like and get a good view of the canyon. On our first trip we didn’t go to the bottom, we hiked down about a mile and a half and then back up. Bright Angel is the easiest trail for this as most of the hotels are right at the trailhead. Just walk out of your hotel, hike down as far as you want and turn around (keeping in mind it’s far harder climbing back out!) There is a shuttle stop nearby that will take you to the S Kaibab trailhead if you’d rather hike that trail (you cannot drive to that trailhead, and must take the shuttle). The only way in and out of the canyon in on foot or by mule (also booked over a year in advance). Even the workers who work down at Phantom Ranch have to hike in and out (they work in several day shifts and stay in quarters down there).

There is a campground at the top, Mather Campground. I know it had been closed for Covid, I’m not sure if it’s open. Although if you can’t drive and bring your own gear it seems like a huge hassle to rent it. I’d just stay in a hotel.

Rafting through the canyon would also be great, I’d love to try it some day. Again something you’d need to book far far in advance. Those trips don’t start at the Grand Canyon. They are several day trips that float through the Grand Canyon. It’s really a separate trip altogether. They have different start/stop points depending on how many days you want to float but you only float through the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you’re not at the top.

If you want to float I’d suggest Page Arizona. It’s a couple of hours away (more now since the east entrance the the GC is closed for Covid). You have to do a big loop around. Page has floating on the Colorado River. They also have horseshoe bend which is beautiful and only a quick mile or so from the parking lot which is right along the main road. So it’s very easy to get to, not out of the way at all.

Since you won’t be able to hike all the way down, I’d suggest one or two nights at the Grand Canyon (if you can get a room) then drive through Page staying one night there and then go on to Zion National park in Utah which is about 2-3 hours from Page and amazingly stunning. You can hike Angels Landing and the Narrows there.

 

[HeatherC]

We went a couple summers ago on a road trip. We stayed at the Cameron Trading Post in Cameron, AZ....extremely close to park entrance but away from all the crowds where other hotels are. It is near the eastern entrance on the southern rim. Could stay there and do day trips into the Canyon for some hiking. Could also go to Page, AZ for some floating or water trips.

If we were to go again, we would stay here again because it was sooo much less crowded getting into the park.

You can see reviews for the hotel on TripAdvisor. Hope this helps!

 

[disneyseniors]

I don't have too much to add, as we took one overnight trip and stayed at the hotel closest to the south rim, I believe? It's been a while. We watched the excellent film about the GC at it's theatre.
Just a note about the GC that surprised us! There are areas with fences to observe the sites, but there are alot of areas along the paths that you can wander out, if you are brave, and look over. These have pretty deep drops and nothing to stop you from going over. So, if you have little kids, I would keep a very close eye on them while on the paths. FYI.
It is a beautiful place and looks surreal to me, like you are looking at a photo of the canyon when you are looking at it, if that makes sense? Have a great time.

 

[kymom99]

We went a couple summers ago on a road trip. We stayed at the Cameron Trading Post in Cameron, AZ....extremely close to park entrance but away from all the crowds where other hotels are. It is near the eastern entrance on the southern rim. Could stay there and do day trips into the Canyon for some hiking. Could also go to Page, AZ for some floating or water trips.

If we were to go again, we would stay here again because it was sooo much less crowded getting into the park.

You can see reviews for the hotel on TripAdvisor. Hope this helps!

The east entrance is closed right now due to covid and to protect the Navajo nation

 

[lovemygoofy]

I just wanted throw out there to check if you need timed entrance tickets for the Grand Canyon. Many of the national parks are going to require timed ticket entry starting the end of May through the busy summer season. We are just missing the cut off for Rocky Mountain National Park.

We stayed in Wililams, AZ (super cute and Cars is themed from it!). We enjoyed a day train ride from town to the Grand Canyon. A different morning we did sunrise tour with the Pink Jeep Tour (limited amount of people in back of jeep). Make sure you visit the visitor center. It very well done. Be prepared for sticker shock if you stay right outside of the Grand Canyon. It is WDW prices for gas and some of the food.

 

[bcla]

Second on the issue of requiring reservations. However, there's typically an exception for anyone who manages to book actual lodging in a particular park. Also many places have inholdings they have to deal with where someone with a reservation can enter. However, most national parks seem to have lifted day use reservations.

However, I looked up the rules for Grand Canyon and they have no reservation system.

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm​

Advanced Reservations Not Required​

They have designated campgrounds at the South Rim, and these are often booked well in advance.

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/camping.htm

 

[JimMIA]

OP, you obviously have quite a bit of self-education about Grand Canyon to do before you start booking a vacation!

Here's a thread over on the California and the West board that is partially about Grand Canyon: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-canyon-and-yosemite.3811065/

However, I would be extra-careful to be sure whatever you are reading is CURRENT information. The links @bcla gave you above are perfect places to start. You will find NPS websites a bit clunky; they require a good bit of drilling down, but they contain a wealth of information.

I would not automatically assume that this May is out of the question, but it is very late to be planning. You might get lucky and snag a cancellation of either lodging (GRCA has a LOT of lodging on the South Rim that is inside the park) or campground space. A lot of park accommodations have a one-month cancellation period, so you may get lucky.

Normally, though, accommodations book a year and a day from arrival and sell out early in the morning when they open.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I visited the Canyon on a trip to Vegas. It was with the Pink Jeep Tours service; we were on the road for a while but it was worth it.

 

[MrsPete]

First thing, which Grand Canyon do you want to visit? Seriously, you have four choices:

- South Rim /National Park is the most popular choice. You could stay in a hotel inside the park or a chain hotel outside the park. Lots of food available. Camping is not a big thing here. You can hike beneath the rim /or ride a mule, and you can return to your hotel at the end of the day.
- North Rim /National Park is a less populated, quieter area. You can rent a small cabin (looks like a Lincoln Log cabin), but in a typical year it'd be too late to get a reservation this year. Much less commercial. You'd need to bring food. You can also camp. Again, mule trips are available.
- Phantom Ranch /National Park cabins at the bottom of the canyon. You have to enter a lottery to get a room. It's possible you could get a late-minute drop-out spot, BUT since you're not local, chances of such a lucky thing matching up with your plane tickets are slim. Also, as another poster said, if you're going to hike in, you need to already be working out.
- Havasupai /Indian Reservation. You'd need to hike in -- so, again, you'd already need to be working out. They have a lodge and a campsite at the bottom of the canyon.

 

[RamblingMad]

- Havasupai /Indian Reservation. You'd need to hike in -- so, again, you'd already need to be working out. They have a lodge and a campsite at the bottom of the canyon.

I've camped at the campsite. It's really nice down there. But make sure to properly store your food. The horses will go through the campsite in the evening. One of my fellow campers hung their food to keep it off the ground from the critters, but the horses got it instead.

 

[JimMIA]

In the larger context of a vacation, I have to say that if you go to Northern Arizona and only see the Grand Canyon, you have missed 90% of what there is to see.

 

[HeatherC]

The east entrance is closed right now due to covid and to protect the Navajo nation

Oh what a shame. Sorry to hear that.

 

[bcla]

I've camped at the campsite. It's really nice down there. But make sure to properly store your food. The horses will go through the campsite in the evening. One of my fellow campers hung their food to keep it off the ground from the critters, but the horses got it instead.

The biggest issue with campgrounds inside the canyon are squirrels. Some recommended food storage devices include metal mesh, although I understand they've got old metal ammo boxes used for food storage.

 

[RamblingMad]

The biggest issue with campgrounds inside the canyon are squirrels. Some recommended food storage devices include metal mesh, although I understand they've got old metal ammo boxes used for food storage.

I use a bear canister. It doubles as a seat.

 

[1GoldenSun]

In the larger context of a vacation, I have to say that if you go to Northern Arizona and only see the Grand Canyon, you have missed 90% of what there is to see.

What else do you suggest?I've never been to that part of the country and don't know much about it. I'll be doing more research, but would love to get the opinions of people here.

 

[JimMIA]

What else do you suggest?I've never been to that part of the country and don't know much about it. I'll be doing more research, but would love to get the opinions of people here.

Depends on where you fly in. If you fly into Vegas, then obviously you will do Vegas. Death Valley National Park is just a couple hour drive away, as is Hoover Dam.

If you fly into PHX, lots and lots of stuff to see. Our last trip, flying into PHX, we were in N. AZ a little over two weeks -- with two nights in Grand Canyon.

Besides the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are big attractions, but the entire Northern AZ area is one natural wonder after another. We visited Montezuma's Castle, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, Petrified Forest, Sunset Crater Volcano Natl Monument, Lower Antelope Canyon (my avatar), Upper Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Four Corners, among others. The last 4 listed are Navajo Nation Parks.

We actually cut short our Grand Canyon visit to spend an extra night in Sedona.